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Only the latest slick travel news
Celebrity Cruises ships ranked by size from biggest to smallest — the complete list
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/celebrity-cruises-ships-biggest-smallest/
Are you looking for the most venue-packed Celebrity Cruises ships at sea? If so, you’ll want to get on one of the biggest Celebrity Cruises ships. The biggest Celebrity cruise ships are, as you might expect, the Celebrity ships with the most onboard restaurants, bars, showrooms and decktop pool zones. They also have the biggest …
Chase Freedom Q3 categories: Last chance to activate for gas and entertainment
https://thepointsguy.com/news/activate-chase-freedom-5x-earnings/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. We’re nearing the end of Q3, so it’s almost time for a new set of Chase Freedom bonus categories. But first, double-check to make sure you’ve activated this quarter’s categories to earn bonus rewards on some of our biggest summer expenses. …
How to book travel (and save points) with Chase Travel
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/ultimate-rewards-travel-portal/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the best flexible rewards currencies available, and you can get some incredible value from your Ultimate Rewards points. Plus, Chase offers the Chase Travel℠ portal, where you can earn and redeem points and take advantage …
Online passport renewals have resumed – here’s what to know
https://thepointsguy.com/news/online-passport-renewal/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. After halting applications in March 2023, the U.S. Department of State has reopened its pilot program to allow Americans to renew passports online. As of Wednesday, a limited number of applications will open daily at 1 p.m. Eastern time on a first-come, first-served basis. …
A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/how-to-pick-cruise-line/
So, you think you want to take a cruise? First, let me say that you’ll likely love it. I’ve been cruising for nearly 30 years, on just about every line out there, and I can tell you it’s a wonderful way to travel. It’s not for everyone, of course. Plenty of people have tried it …
Wyndham plans multimillion-dollar renovation at popular Puerto Rico resort
https://thepointsguy.com/news/wyndham-puerto-rico-renovation/
A major glow-up at Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Rainforest Beach and Golf Resort in northeastern Puerto Rico is slated for the next several months. The LionGrove-owned property — which TPG considers one of the best Wyndham resorts in the world — will undergo a full renovation to all 400 of the resort’s guest rooms, as …
AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard review: A solid option for American loyalists
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/aadvantage-aviator-business-mastercard-review/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard Overview The AAdvantage Aviator World Elite Business Mastercard is a well-rounded option for frequent AA flyers. While the card isn’t the most rewarding for ongoing spending, perks like the first checked bag free, an annual …
How to use Amex’s The Hotel Collection to snag extra perks on hotel stays
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/hotel-collection-amex-gold/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. One of the lesser-known perks on select American Express cards is access to The Hotel Collection. This program offers room upgrades and hotel credits for dining, spa and resort activities when you stay for two or more nights at select hotels. …
9 travel-focused upgrades coming to Apple’s iPhone 16, AirPods, Watch lineup
https://thepointsguy.com/news/apple-iphone-16-airpods-watch-travel/
Every fall, Apple unveils its highly anticipated updates to its flagship products, including the iPhone, AirPods and Watch lineup. This year was no exception, with the tech giant hosting a special “It’s Glowtime” press event on Monday at its Cupertino, California, headquarters, where TPG was in attendance. The event didn’t just usher in new phones …
What are airport slots, and how do they affect your flights?
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/slots/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. From time to time, covering airlines and airports requires us to throw around a common word with much deeper meaning in the aviation world: slots. It’s a word most often used in “inside baseball” types of aviation conversations. That said, slots matter a …
Classic luxury in the French Quarter: A review of Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans
https://thepointsguy.com/reviews/hotel-monteleone-new-orleans/
[circuit type=review circuit_id=”8932″] Culturally rich and bursting with personality, New Orleans offers an experience unlike other U.S. cities. You can hear live jazz while sipping a Sazerac, admire scenic French colonial architecture and taste flavorful cuisine — all while taking a stroll through its energetic streets. Coupled with New Orleans’ well-earned reputation as a party-centric …
The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Cunard Line cruise ship
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-cunard-line-cruise-destinations/
Cunard Line is a relatively small cruise company with just four ships, but that doesn’t mean it has a small footprint when it comes to places its ships go. The storied passenger ship company — one of the oldest in the world, with a history that dates back to 1840 — offers cruises to almost …
10 of the best US national parks to visit in the fall
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-national-parks-visit-in-fall/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. If you’re considering visiting a U.S. national park this fall, you’re in luck. There’s a secret many travelers with flexible schedules have long known: National parks are best in autumn. Of course, that’s not true of every national park — more than a …
San Juan cruise port guide: Top things to see and do in Puerto Rico
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/cruise-port-san-juan/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Puerto Rico offers a host of lures for cruise travelers — rich history, stunning beaches, natural beauty and fantastic cuisine among them. The island’s capital city, San Juan, is a popular port of call for a variety of operators, including Carnival Cruise …
US-China flights are a quarter of what they were pre-pandemic — here’s why
https://thepointsguy.com/news/china-flights-united-states-plummet/
China was a booming opportunity when United Airlines launched flights to Chengdu a decade ago. “China is a market that is an economy that continues to grow at a very strong pace. And there are many opportunities in China that you can develop markets with, particularly with the [Boeing] 787,” Jim Compton, United’s then-chief revenue …
5 stunning fall foliage road trips in the Midwest
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/midwest-road-trips-fall-foliage/
From fiery birch, elm and sugar maple in the Great Lakes to sunset-hued beech and oak in the southern Appalachians to glowing sumac and cottonwoods along the Mississippi, the forests of the Midwest flaunt some of the most vivid fall colors in the United States. Here is a guide to five Midwest road trips to …
The top 7 credit cards to maximize large purchases
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-cards-on-large-purchases/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. One of the first lessons I learned when I got into the points and miles hobby is to put everything possible on a travel rewards card. Simultaneously, choosing the best card is important to ensure you get the biggest bang for your …
Graduate Hotels officially joins Hilton Honors
https://thepointsguy.com/news/graduate-hotels-hilton-honors/
There’s officially a new lifestyle hotel member of the Hilton Honors family, and it’s all about the collegiate life — well, without the stress of midterms and awkward roommates. Graduate Hotels — now known as Graduate by Hilton — joined Hilton Honors this week. Members can now earn and redeem points at the brand just …
Air Canada braces for imminent pilots’ strike; US airlines continue flight attendant negotiations
https://thepointsguy.com/news/air-canada-pilots-strike-imminent/
Air Canada is planning to cancel scores of flights in the coming days as it faces an imminent pilot walkout. The airline is planning to begin canceling mainline operations under its Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge brands as soon as Sunday, Sept. 15, gradually winding down its operations over a three-day period. Pilots can …
Should you pay your rent with Bilt? We crunch the numbers
https://thepointsguy.com/news/is-bilt-worth-it/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. TPG founder Brian Kelly is a Bilt adviser and investor. In 2021, Bilt Rewards launched a points program to help renters build credit and earn points on rent payments. Shortly afterward, it debuted a cobranded credit card. The concept of paying rent with …
What it’s like to stay at The Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica, California
https://thepointsguy.com/reviews/the-georgian-hotel-santa-monica-california/
[circuit type=review circuit_id=”20420184541″] Editor’s note: The Georgian Hotel provided TPG with a complimentary two-night stay. The opinions expressed below are entirely the author’s and weren’t subject to review by the hotel or any external entity. At nearly 100 years old, the building that houses The Georgian Hotel has lived several lives (including a short stint …
What’s in an (airport) name? Will Rogers World Airport gets a rebrand
https://thepointsguy.com/news/airport-name-change-oklahoma/
In 1941, Oklahoma City Municipal Airport (OKC) was renamed to honor Oklahoma native and Cherokee Indian Will Rogers. Rogers was a legendary cowboy, actor, writer and humorist who died in Alaska in 1935 during an airplane crash with noted aviator Wiley Post. Now, Will Rogers World Airport, Oklahoma’s busiest airport, is changing its name again. …
Here’s why this fall is such a good time to book a flight
https://thepointsguy.com/news/fall-shoulder-season-cheap-airfare/
It’s the most wonderful time of the year … for airfare. Autumn “shoulder season” is here. That means lower flight prices as the crowds taper off in the wake of summer before returning for the busy holiday rush. The season started in August, as earlier school start dates helped thin out congestion on airport concourses. …
Cruise weddings: Everything you need to know about getting hitched at sea
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/cruise-weddings/
Are you considering a cruise wedding? At-sea nuptials have many selling points — including a wedding planner and a built-in honeymoon — especially for couples looking for smaller, more intimate weddings. Cruise ships are also ideal for elopements. However, before you decide to get married on a cruise ship, you’ll want to understand all the …
Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Gold: A top luxury travel card against a top foodie card
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/credit-card-showdown-chase-sapphire-reserve-vs-amex-gold/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. When it comes to travel rewards cards, you usually get what you pay for in terms of bonus categories and perks. This is why we usually compare cards within a single category to try to find the best premium rewards card …
Frequent Uber or Lyft user? These are the best credit cards for you
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-cards-for-uber/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Over the past few years, we’ve embraced ride-hailing services so fully that it’s hard to imagine a time when our only options to get around a new city were public transportation or calling a taxi. But as convenient as they are, …
Norwegian Cruise Line ships ranked by size from biggest to smallest — the complete list
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/norwegian-cruise-line-ships-biggest-smallest/
Are you looking for the most megaresort-like, activity-packed Norwegian Cruise Line ships at sea? If so, you’ll want to get on one of the biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ships. The biggest Norwegian Cruise Line ships are, almost by definition, the Norwegian Cruise Line ships with the most “stuff” — the most pools, waterslides and other …
How and why to get Hyatt lifetime Globalist status
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/world-of-hyatt-lifetime-elite-status/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. If you enjoy the World of Hyatt program, you might be interested in earning lifetime Hyatt elite status. But while travelers can obtain Marriott lifetime status at multiple tiers, there’s only one Hyatt lifetime status tier. So here’s what you should know about …
Capital on Tap Business Card review: Simple cash back and high credit limits for businesses
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/capital-on-tap-business-credit-card-review/
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Capital on Tap Business Credit Card overview The Capital on Tap Business Credit Card is one of the newest no-annual-fee business cards on the block, and it doesn’t require a hard pull on your credit report. It comes with a solid …
How to book a cruise using points and miles
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/points-and-miles-for-cruise-vacation/
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information. If you’re eager to embark on a cruise and have accumulated points, you might not have to pay for your next trip. In this guide, we will explore strategies to help you optimize your points and miles to reduce the cost of your cruise vacation. …